ANDERSON COOPER (HOST): Isn't then this just a wedge issue that's being used to stoke that divide? I mean, that --

CHRISTINE QUINN: By the president of the United States. I mean, it is bad when any politician does that or any, you know, “leader” in America. That's bad, and it's dangerous. I used to run the Crime Victims Agency, after hate like this gets put out, we would see hate crimes rise against the LGBT community, you can track it.

But this is the president, he should be -- never be throwing entire groups of Americans under the bus and saying they're less than other people. He should be or she should be the one who is bridging the divide, closing the chasm, bringing us together, and this is the opposite, for pure political gain. Leadership in elected officials is defined by being a leader.

All the president here is doing is playing, you know, to the cheap seats, and doesn't care at all who he hurts. And make no mistake, transgender children are one of the highest suicide groups in the country, so to speak. This will make transgender children go to sleep feeling less than, and God knows what will happen.

And let me just say lastly, God forbid there is some type of military tragedy today or in the next few days. One of the last things transgender service members might have heard from their commander in chief is that they are unworthy.